Attend A Live Npr Taping

"Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" visits Virginia Beach for a live taping next week. The National Public Radio quiz show promises to mix wacky stories with politicians, celebrities and stupid criminals.

Winner of the Peabody Award in April, "Wait Wait" draws 2.6 million listeners each week and is heard locally on WHRV-FM. On this week's episode, a contestant had to guess the one true story out of the three given. The real story came from a Colorado man who got into a Taser fight outside his restaurant.

In an e-mail to the show, the man described how he and a security guard simultaneously electrocuted each other. He expressed mixed feelings about sharing the story, writing that his wife "is sure I will be mentioned and mocked." Sure enough, "Wait Wait" used his story.

Contestants play for the chance to win the voice of Carl Kasell, judge and scorekeeper, on their home answering machine. They do this by correctly answering two out of three questions in games such as "Who's Carl This Time?" and "Listener Limerick Challenge."

In a game called "Not My Job," a famous person sitting in for the contestant has to answer questions completely unrelated to their profession. Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer was asked about the rock-and-roll lifestyle, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald played a game called, "We are so not going to ask you about Scooter Libby!" and New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul answered questions about failed food products.

The panel for Thursday's taping will be made up of author Tom Bodett; P.J. O'Rourke, a correspondent for Atlantic Monthly and a former editor-in-chief for National Lampoon; and Roxanne Roberts of Washington Post's gossip column, "Reliable Source."

"Wait Wait" airs locally from 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays on WHRV-FM (89.5). It can be downloaded free on Sunday nights from iTunes or from www.npr.org/waitwait. Thursday's taping is part of the Virginia Arts Festival.

NEWS TO USE

What: Live taping of National Public Radio's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!"

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach

Cost: Tickets are $77 ($37 and $57 tickets are sold out) by calling 282-2822 or online at www.virginiaartsfest.com.